Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-07-21
THE SECULAR PRESS
And the Papal Hierarchy-By Rev. j
Hanson McMechen.

Your present correspondent can par
TALLY, at least, appreciate the difficulties
under which the Secular Press labOrs in
dealing with contendiug parties and con-
flicting interests. In avoiding Scylla it is
in danger of running on Charybdis-an
that Is the whole OF it. He has this to say,
however, Tor the REGISTER, and he does so
with pleasure: That, having been a sub
scribtr, and daily reader Of the same for
about n quarter of a century, it has, in its
genera course, met with his unqualified
approval, and has been 10 him a source of
much valuable information. He has writ
ten much for its pageS-anOnymouSly and
otherwise-and with one or two slight eX-
ceptions, has met with uniform courtesy
and respect. tie has had several business
transactions with the different and success
siye REGISTER companies Of some import
ance, and has never received from IT., un-
der it's different administrations, anything
but fair, Just and honorable dealing. So
the REGISTER will please understand, that
whatever the writer may have to say Of
the press, is of general application, and
does not affect the REGISTER specially,
only SO far as that paper allows itself to be
drawn into what is deemed the unwise
and unpatriOtic policy Of the secular press
at large. In such a course it will not he
held iustifable, by any discrimination that
he can make in its favor.
With regard to the secular press gener-
ally, the writer utterly repudiates the
position taken by it, that It's chief business
is to collect and impart the news" AS
summing a vast control over public opinion,
As il practically does, it thereby becomes,
10 all intents and purposes, tedder OF
public opinion, as well as a dealer IN
news" and il means TO be such, though
il does not always have independence Ia
assume the responsibilities of the situation.
But the public will hold it responsible,
nevertheless, for all that it assumes to be
in fact, and will deal wish 1t accordingly.
Now what do we see?
We see the public press catering TO false
notions, and trucking to corrupt and cor
rupting influences in politics, morals anu
religion, notably, tn THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC,
AND PAPAL USURPATION, withholding
the truth rs to the facts, and adroitly en-
deayoring, Us may suit its purpose, to Keep
the public in utter Ignorance OF what II
ought to know. But this essay Will have
to do chiefly with the course Of the press
IN regard to civil and religious liberty. II
any one attempts, through the press, to- set
fhe public mind right IN regard to the real
issue, the press blatantly announces, that
il has nothing to do with ''Sects or parties
of course not, only to mlslead the pun
lie ~ to the real and vital issues.
The writer would wish to he distinctly
understood, that the issue he makes IS
not one of "sects and parties but the
more momentOus one of
CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY,
for which our fathers fought and bled and
lied. The issue is briefly this: A foreign
uotentate, by "A well organized hierarchy -
chiefly OF the Irish priesthoOd-is constant
ly encroaching upon our rights and hDer-
ties ~ American citizens; and the secnIar
press, either through cOwardlce or interest,
seemingly proclaims that all ~ right, or
plays the dumb dog which cannot, or VIII
not bark, at the approach OF the insidlous
foe.
II is well known that Cardinal Gibbons
represents the Papal government IN both
it, civil and ecclesiastical functions, ana Is
THE MoUTHPIECE or THE AUrOCRAT OF
ROME,
To the American people, and, moreover, II
is well known that the whole Papal her
archy from the Archbishop down to the
bumblest priest is bound to obey his be
bests, under the seyerest penalties. Nc
wonder that DIR. MeGlynn did not wish to
trust himself under the shadow of the
Vatican. He knew but too well what
awaited him there, American citizen rs he
is But Just here it might be asked,
"Why do the American people submit Il
have their fellow citizens thus treated by s
foreign, despOtic power" This, however,
il a yery silly question to ask, 80 long as
our own people are, more or less, ruled by
demaVogues II ought not so to be.
Suppose, then, that the fealty Of Ro-
mapist, as q subject of the Pope, should
come in conflict with his duty as citizen
of the United States-which Is constantly
happening and cannot be Otherwise-which
allegiance, in such q case, would have the
priSrity, that due to the Pope, or to the
II. s. Government? Which would such q
subject OF two governments be bound tC
obey first, the Pope, or the U. S. authori-
ties? Unquestionably the former. This
has 80 often been admitted by prominent
papal eeelesiastics that it would be almost
useless, if not foolish, to discuss it here.
IL may be taken for granted; and taking il
for granted, the process by which civil and
religious liberty, in America, would be in
eyitably overthrow, may be easily seen